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Family, we need to all join together in praying for Uncle Winnie, for Uncle Joe who will be having surgery shortly, and for Uncle Johnny. Please join me in praying for all of our dear uncles, for their health and well being… let’s all join together and send up some prayers! They are so special to all of us. And while you are at it, pray for Aunt Clynese, Aunt Teen, Aunt Geneva and Aunt Verna! They could use your prayers as well!

PRAYER WORKS!

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Kyle lives life the way we should all live life.I have always told him to “do it right the first time” and he has done that. He embraces every breath he is blessed to take. Kyle is handsome on the outside but even more beautiful on the inside. His strong, radiating, “love life and live life to the fullest” spirit blesses all who know him. Here’s to you, Kyle! Thank you for 24 wonderful years! You bless us more than you could ever know. (I will be writing more about my two incredible sons later!)

In light of today’s stressed economy, I thought it would be nice to have a little flash-back to that great golden era….. the 50’s.

Do you remember what you paid for a coke and a sandwich at Woolworth’s in the 1950’s? (Do you even know what Woolworth’s was?) Try paying ten cents for a ice-cold King Size bottle of Coke and forty cents for a super deluxe sliced ham, stacked high on bread, toast or a roll… your choice! That’s a whoppin’ fifty cents for lunch, folks!

After that sandwich we could have them pour us a piping hot cup of that rich Woolworth coffee and then have them cut us a piece of that delicious “fifteen cent” layer cake… maybe chocolate! (These days, you couldn’t dust a cake pan with flour for “fifteen cents.”) Or, if you don’t want cake, perhaps we’ll just have an “extra rich old fashioned ice cream soda” for “twenty five cents?” I don’t know about you but it’s sure made my mouth water!

Squeeky (that’s little Clynese) and Jon have a special new addition to their beautiful family. Everyone… meet:

“Tina Kaye!”

What a “very pink”preciouslittle angel!

They call her “Tiki” for short! That’s too cute!

I know Teen and Jimmy are just BEAMING!

Tiki weighed 6 pounds 5 oz. when she was born. She is 18 1/2 inches long. She came into this world at 7:52 am on Feb. 3, 2009.

Squeek says: “She is a really good, sweet baby. Not fussy at all. I feel so blessed to have her. I had forgotten how magical it is to have a little infant around. I am just head over heels in love with her. 🙂 We are both doing well. I had a c-section, and they let me go home after only two days. I was happy about that.”

The Story of Isom Wright and Indian Joe

The year was 1809. Isom Wright was a mere 16 years old, when he and his four brothers first came to Wright’s Cove from Kentucky, after a year of barely surviving the other brothers returned home. Isom stayed and made himself a permanent camp by what is now known as Wright’s Spring, just under the crest of the mountain northeast of “Bat Cave”. There were several families of Cherokees living in the cave we today know as Cathedral Caverns.

While trying to catch a squirrel in a January snow, Isom slipped on an icy patch and broke his hip. After lying in the snow for hours he crawled in between some rocks for protection from the wind. About noon of the second day Isom heard the Cherokees walking through the woods. He didn’t know if he should call to them or not. His movement made a noise and they took him to their cave.

For the next two years Isom lived in the cave with the Cherokees. The cave gave excellent protection winter and. summer with a year round temperature of 50 degrees. They used the creek running through the cave for storing meats and generally keeping food fresh, as well as a permanent water supply. Being a pioneer made Isom familiar with the lifestyle and foods of the Cherokee. During this time Isom became a “blood brother” to the Cherokees and best friends with Indian Joe.

Isom eventually settled two miles northeast of Bat Cave at Wright’s spring. He built a cabin, married and had two sons, John and James. Within in the next twenty years the settlers and the Cherokees lived side-by-side, giving and sharing information and food needed for living an everyday existence.

Until the final removal or Trail of Tears in 1837 Isom was a friend and champion of the Cherokees. Although his whole family was removed Indian Joe refused to leave his mountain. He disappeared into the woods. The only connection he had with anyone was a tree one-quarter mile from Isom’s cabin, in Wright’s Cove between his cabin and Bat Cave. It was here a flour sack of supplies was left every Friday. The list was very simple coffee, salt, tobacco, flour and in later years ammo. Isom presented Joe with his first rifle, until then he did all his hunting with bow and arrow. Life was not easy for Indian Joe. He was shot twice, and the government agents were always after him: His woods were disappearing.

Eventually John and James moved out of the cove, James to Texas and John to Aspel over close to Woodville. John Wright had three children Isom, John, and Mattie. John’s son Isom moved back to his Grandfather Isom’s cabin to look after him and helped take care of Indian Joe. This was after his Grandfather took arthritis in his right hip and had difficulty walking.

During the Civil War the Government slacked off their search for Joe. He was then in his 70’s. Young Isom served in the southern army, fighting in several major battles. He returned home around 1866, as did most southerners.

In 1882 Young Isom moved to present day Babe Wright’s Road. He built a country store and accumulated a considerable tract of land, from Wright’s Cove to Birch Hollow. From the back of his store he could see one quarter mile south to Joe’s spring and stream, with a clear view of the tree where Joe picked up his supplies. On his way to and from the store Isom would watch for signals, the white sack in the tree other than a Friday would signal something wrong with Joe. Only once was this system used, on a Tuesday Joe hung his bag in the tree. Isom went quickly and found Joe one hundred feet from the tree partially conscious. Joe had pneumonia and was near death. Isom carried him home and nursed him back to health. Joe was now diminished from his average height and weight, looking old and wrinkled in the face. His right side was drawn and weak from age and weathering. Anyone seeing him could easily recognize his derby hat with a tail feather standing up. These were the only trademarks left.

Indian Joe settled in Birch Hollow for his later years. He would bring in food to Isom, pick-up corn from the barn, even milk the cows during the night. The Wrights were always proud of noises in the night, it was just Joe, the dogs wouldn’t even bark. Joe was even known to mend fences at the backside of the property, or remove fallen timber. Isom kept his word to his Grandfather, even becoming best of friends with Joe. The old smoke house on the Isom Wright place had a special room where Joe could come in and sleep in his later years.

Today Birch Hollow lies south of Truman Wright’s property line. The spring is only one half mile east of his home in Swearengin. There is a large gum tree by the spring, but Truman says he doesn’t think it’s the same tree. A cave with a water source nearby is about 500 feet south of Truman’s land line with a rock wall built up inside. You can still find arrowheads scattered in the fields around the spring. Some say it was a battlefield, some say it was just Joe hunting.

Misty Mountain News

Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama
P.O. Box 66
Grant, Alabama 35747

The newsletter is undated but was postmarked from Birmingham 18 Oct 2004.

VAUGHT CEMETERY

Taken from The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Autumn 1955

The site of the Vaught Cemetery, which is about five miles northeast of Mountainburg (Crawford Co., Arkansas) in the Big Frog Valley, will be covered with water when the dam above Lake Fort Smith is completed and its reservoir fills. This dam was authorized by the city of Fort Smith to create an additional water supply for the city. According to the contract for building the dam, it will be completed in early 1956.

This century-old cemetery has been used as their burial ground as long as the present generation can remember. A report from B. A. McConnell who had the contract for removing the graves, states that “488 graves were moved from the original Vaught Cemetery and 18 graves from an old cemetery on East – making 506 graves in the new Vaught Cemetery.” The site of the new Vaught Cemetery is three and a half miles south of the old location. It is on Highway 71 and near the Shepherd Springs road. This new cemetery was dedicated on Sunday, Aug. 28, 1955.

Many soldiers, one dating back to the War of 1812, are buried in this cemetery. It was started on land once owned by Samuel Caswell Vaught. He settled near Fayetteville in 1842 but removed to Crawford County in 1846 and established his home on the road between Mountainburg (the Narrows, then) and what is now known as Winfrey. About 1850 Caswell Vaught buried an old Cherokee Indian (Indian Joe Muhlkey/Mulkey) in one corner of his land down by the Big Frog Creek. This Indian had attached himself to the family and befriended them during their first days in the valley. Later Caswell gave the plot to the community to use as a burial ground.

Genealogy gives us a little window into the past: into “our past.” The blood of these strong folks who came before us now runs through our veins. For me, it’s fascinating to research the family tree and sometimes find information that provides a small glimpse into their lives… these sometimes very illusive, mysterious family members long since gone.

What were they like? What did they do every day? What were their struggles? Due to the period of time they walked this earth, life was most likely much harder than it is for us. Regardless, I know that they laughed, they cried and they loved much as we do now. They had their joys and their sorrows.

This post honors one of those families: William Jackson (John) “Jack” Wright(son of Ardell Wright and Martha) and his beautiful bride, Sarah Frances Thomason(daughter of Montgomery L “Tobe” Thomason and Mary Mexico Harper).

This will be the first of many genealogy related posts. And as I learn more about each of these individuals or families, I will return to that post to add the new information. So check back from time to time! Now, lets get to know Jack and Sarah!

Jack & Sarah were married on the 6th of March, 1898 in Jackson Co, Alabama by the Rev. David Derrick.

Jack has been rather hard to find. Below is the 1880 Census record which proves why genealogy research can be an extremely challenging experience. (Our very own Louis found this census record, using his master research skills!)

The Wright Family

The Story of Woodville and Community AlbumBy John Robert Kennamer, Sr.

The Wrights came from South Carolina to East Tennessee to Southeast Kentucky, then came to Madison County before settling in Jackson County, Alabama. Old Isom Wright settled at Wright’s Spring in Wright’s Cove, about twenty years before the Indians were removed to the Indian Territory.

All his salt, ammunition and farming supplies were bought at Hunstsville[.] He had two brothers and a sister who settled near Aspel.

Children of Old Isom Wright: (1) John Wright m. Charlotty Hill, a granddaughter of Hans Kennamer. The Post Office records show John Wright was appointed Postmaster at Woodville, August 5, 1867, and served until the office was discontinued Feb. 14, 1870. He and wife “Lottie” lived in Wood’s Cove. Children: (a) Nancy Wright m. Asap Kennamer. (b) Martha Wright m. Wade Cline. They went to Texas in a wagon. (a) Isham A. Wright m. Margaret Susan Thomas. Children: John Will, Silas S., Martha, Joseph W., Robert I., Charles David (Dea), Nannie A., Emmer A. Ida Dellar and Bentley M. Wright.

(2) (Particular) James Wright m. Harriett Hill. He made guns for the pioneers. Fifteen children were born to this union. They emigrated to Texas before there were any railroads. Many of their children died on the road.

(3) Jacob Cline married a daughter of Old Isom Wright. They went to Texas.

(4) Martha Wright m. Sampson Wilder, Jr. They also went to Texas.

There were other Wrights in Marshall, Madison, and Jackson Counties. William (Bill) Wright m. Amanda Jane Manning. He lived to be 87 years old; died in Peter’s Cove where he is buried. One of his sons, Delbert Wright m. Ethel Ashburn. They live in Peter’s Cove. There is another family of Wrights only slightly related to William Wright. Jack Wright was a cripple—made shoes for my father and others. He worked in Woodville a few years. His brother, Andill Wright lived on my father’s farm many years. He married Martha Smith. Children (1) David Wright (1872-1946) m. Susie Paseur, (2) W. J. (Jack) Wright m. Sarah Thomason, (3) Margaret, (4) Eliza Wright m. George Woody.

The first record we have of any Wright in this part of the state is John Wright, Captain of the Militia in Madison County, Mississippi Territory, now Alabama, Dec. 4, 1816. John Wright married Sarah Moon, Sept. 20, 1820 in Madison County, Alabama. What relation he was, if any, to the three brothers and their sister who settled Wright’s Cove and Aspel before this county and state were organized December 13 and 14, 1819 respectively, I do not know. These Wrights came from South Carolina to East Tennessee to Southeast Kentucky, where they lived a few years near Sampson Wilder. St., then came to Madison County before settling in Jackson County.

Old Isom Wright settled at Wright’s Spring in Wright’s Cove, about twenty years before the Indians were removed to Indian Territory. All his salt, ammunition and farming supplies were bought at Huntsville.

His brother, “Old Bucky” Buchanan Wright settled just across the cedar ridge west of Aspel. Another brother whose name I do not have settled at a spring on the side of the mountain near the old stage road from Huntsville to Belletente, of between Woodville and Aspel. His home was burned when the Indians were being removed west 1836-38.

His daughter married John Giddeon. All this branch of the family moved west years ago.

Brooks Smith, Sr., married first a sister, whose name I do not have, of these Wright brothers. Children of Old Isom Wright: (1) James Wright married Harriet Hill born about 1809. James was called “Particular Jim”. He made guns for the pioneers. Fifteen children were born to this union. They moved west.

(2) John Wright married Charlotte Hill (called Lottie). They lived in Woods Cove.

Jacob Cline married a daughter. They went to Texas.

Sampson Wilder, Jr., married Martha Wright and they went to Texas.

“Old Bucky” Wright’s children: (1) Calvin Wright who married Ann Shook, daughter of Milburn Shook. Children were (a) Buchanan. (b) Minas, (c) Laura married Tom Huggins. They moved west. Minas Wright married Mary Woodall, youngest daughter of Dr. Presley Woodall and wife Demaris Busby. Buchanan Wright married Bell Lindsay. Children: Effie Wright married Moke Walls. Jane Wright married Porter Walls. Elmer Wright married Mamie Watson. Oakland Wright—single. Barton Wright died in 1944. Calvin or Cal Wright had two brothers; one went west years ago. The other brothers died young, leaving 3 children who were reared by Cal. One boy was named Wiley Wright, another one was named Cam Wright.

There are other Wrights in Jackson County. David Wright said: “My grandfather Wright came from Virginia and settled in Paint Rock bend in Madison County, Alabama. He had been married twice before his death.[”]

Elijah Whitaker later owned the homestead. Children were: (1) William or Bill Wright; (2) Jack or John Wright, (3) Ardil Wright, and (4) Elizabeth or Bettie who married Jeff Tate. Children of Bill Wright were Ardil, Joe, Pleas, and Jeff Wright. These all lived in Humpton, which is in Marshall County near Butler’s Mill.

Jack Wright was a crippled man, who was a shoe cobbler. He made shoes for my father’s family. He worked at Woodville a few years and was serving as Postmaster at Woodville when this office was discontinued early in 1870 for a few months.

Ardil married Martha Smith, daughter of Ambrose Smith. The latter lived at the place later known as the Joel Barclay place. He had two sons—Bud and Andy Smith. Ardil Wright lived on my father’s farm many years. His children were (1) David Wright, born June 9, 1872 and died Jan. 22, 1946 and married Susie Paseur. David was a true friend of the writer.

(2) Jack Wright married Sarah Thomason. They reside at Glen, Miss.

(3) Margaret Wright. (4) Eliza Wright married George Woody, now deceased. His widow lives in Chattanooga.

John Wright was related to those Wrights just mentioned as living in Marshall County. He could have been a son of John Wright who married Sarah Moon in Madison County. He married Martha Fletcher who was a sister to Amanda Fletcher, who was the wife of James Whitaker. John Wright and his family went north to escape the horrors of the Civil War; returned after this conflict was ended.

Children: (1) Governor Wright married Sis Finley. (2) Robert or Bob Wright married Laura Wallace, daughter of F. M. Wallace, minister of the Church of Christ. (3) David Wright. (4) William or Bill Wright married Amanda Jane Manning, sister of Mart and Joe Manning. William lived to be 87 years old—dying about 4 years ago—buried in Peter’s Cove. Children: (a) Ed Wright married Lillian Blanton. (b) Carrie Wright who married John Peters. (c) Mart Wright who married Della Brewer. (d) Delbert Wright married Ethel Ashburn. They reside in Peters Cove. (e) Daisy Wright married Jess Hall.

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There was a time when cigarettes were advertised everywhere! TV, magazines, radio… it was glorified, really. Glamorized! And lots of folks smoked.

Dick was one of them. And as we all know, smoking is a very addictive habit. But as time went by, the dangers of smoking became apparent and there was a movement that encouraged smokers to quit. Dick found himself square in the middle of this movement.

He wasn’t thrilled. He enjoyed smoking, but he vowed to give it his best shot.

Dick loved to stay busy. He worked with his hands a lot, so this helped. He was a crafted carpenter and would build things. He made little miniature chairs for the little great nieces and nephews and birdhouses… along with other nice things. And because he was an engineer, everything he made was beautiful. He always used the best materials and put all he had into each piece.

Well, as some of you x-smokers know, it’s hard to quit smoking. His wife, Teen, and a few other family members had to run errands one day. Dick decided he wanted a cigarette and it was a good time to discreetly one! He went outside to the yard so nobody would smell smoke in the house.

He found a nice spot in the shade, just to the side of the house. Standing near the hedges, not worrying a bit that he would ever be discovered, he fired up the cigarette and inhaled. Nobody was in sight… and he was only going to smoke one! “What would that hurt,” he thought!

He looked around and surveyed his yard. Things had sure been dry that year. No matter how hard they tried, they had struggled keeping everything watered. The shrubbery and grass had really dried up from the extreme heat and no rain. His yard was usually green and beautiful, but now “just an ugly brown!”

Suddenly… as he was enjoying his much needed cigarette, to his shock and surprise, his wife’s car pulls up into the driveway. His family had returned and he was right in the middle of a good smoke! They sure made a quick trip to the store! He thought he would have enough time. He looked around in a panic… he had to get rid of the evidence but there was “no time…!” They were getting out of the car!

He quickly tossed the cigarette down on the ground, under the bush he was standing next to!

As the family walked towards him… the bushwent up in flames!

Well, needless to say, they all realized what had happened and had a good laugh.

And after that, teased him unmercifully about the “burning bush.”

They called him Moses!

Left to Right: Jimmy, Icy, Teen, Dick

Oh, and by the way… maybe that experience helped him, because we are pleased to report that he was eventually successful and ‘did’ whip his long held habit… he was able to completely quit smoking, which made everyone who loved him extremely happy! (And an additional benefit: the “fire risk” around their house went way, way down.)

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Nathan had a nickname for Doc. He called his brother-in-law “Doodle Bug.”

Doc called Nathan“Jelly!”

When Nathan got off work, he and Icy would often load all the kids up in the car and make a track to the country to see Doc and Vivian.

Because it was usually late when he got off work, they were often arriving in the wee hours of the morning. On this particular trip, Nathan was not familiar with where Doc’s house was. They drove around for a bit and growing frustrated and tired, Nathan finally picked out the house he thought was his brother-in-law’s. He was sure of it… it just had to be Doc’s house!

Icy said, “Nathan, that’s not Doc’s house.”

Nathan protested, “I think it is, Icy!”

Back and forth they argued about it. Finally Icy said, “Well go bang on the door and see…!”

So Nathan pulled in front of the house and beat a path to the door.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” (…at 2:00 a.m. in the morning!)

“Doodle Bug! Doodle Bug! Get Up! Open Up Doodle Bug,” Nathan hollered as he banged loudly at the door!

A very sleepy, grumpy man finally dragged himself to the door and said, “WHO IN THE WORLD IS DOODLE BUG?”

Nope! It wasn’t Doodle Bug! Yes, as you have probably guessed by now, they had the wrong house!

Nathan explained to the startled, tired man who “Doodle Bug” was, and the man directed him to Doc’s house.

And if you are wondering where in the world Nathan came up with the nickname “Doodle Bug,” we can only guess. My wild guess is that it most likely came from his workplace. They used to call some of the trains…. yes, “Doodle Bugs!”

“Doodlebug” or “Song of the Doodlebug” – U.S., 1928
Echoing the children’s rhymes of American antlion folklore, the lyrics of this song claim that a doodlebug can be enticed out of its hole by putting one’s mouth near its pit and singing:

Doodle, doodle, doodle. . . hop up bug!
Doodle, doodle, doodle. . . hop up bug!
That doodle jump up and look all around
and doodle back in the ground.

Originally performed by the Georgia Yellowhammers, the “Song of the Doodlebug”appears on several contemporary folk recordings…

Cheryl writes:“During one of our family’s many trips to see everyone, I received an invitation to spend the night with Clynese’s eldest daughter, Sheila and her husband, Louis. I was thrilled. I have always loved Sheila and Louis. They were (and still are) brilliant in my eyes, never too busy to listen to my early teenage silliness or spend time talking with me. They always treated me as though I were an adult and I liked that.

So off we went!

We had a lovely time. Sheila and Louis have always been fascinating, as was their home. It was a warm, fun place to explore and to my delight I discovered that they shared the same love that I had for books. They had an entire wall covered with books. There were books everywhere! I was in heaven! I dreamed of having that many books of my own some day.

We shared a great evening, but nighttime came quickly…

They fixed a place for me on their couch and went off to bed. The only problem…. I wasn’t sleepy yet. So I stayed up, looking through more of their wonderful books. They wouldn’t mind…

I had never seen that many books before, except at the library back home. There seemed to be a book for every subject you could imagine. I must have flipped through them all. As the night ticked away… as I thumbed through book after book, I noticed that they didn’t seem to be arranged in any sort of way.

I had always arranged my books by size. Their books weren’t like that. There were big books next to little books… They were just all messed up. This was no good! It didn’t look “pretty,” I thought. So, I decided to rectify this problem immediately and surprise them the next morning.

I spent most of the night, working diligently into the early morning hours, arranging each books according to it’s size. From big to little, from the top shelf to the bottom shelf, and from left to right I stacked each books carefully. Once done, I stepped back to behold the “magnificent order” I had created! It looked beautiful and “so organized!”

I could hardly wait to show them what I had done for them! I slept hardly a wink in anticipation.

Morning came quickly, and when Sheila and Louis entered the room I proudly pointed to the bookcase to show them what I had done for them. They were so surprised! They thought it looked very nice and I was so pleased that they liked it and appreciated all my hard work.

Years later… they told me, with a smile, that they had their books organized “alphabetically.”

Opps!

Well… you gotta love ’em for how they handled it. They could have really devastated me, but instead, they chose to handle it with love.

Do you know that each of us have an impact on a minimum of 3 generations? Knowing this, and realizing the positive impact so many of you have had in my life, it confirms that I come from “good stock” and have an extremely high standard to live up to!

I have every birthday card you ever sent to me, tied up in ribbons. The graduation cards, letters of encouragement… all of them. You may have thought they were insignificant when you sent them, but think not. I often think of how blessed I’ve been to have your constant love and support all these years, loving me in spite of my flaws!

I would like to say that I am very thankful for each and every one of you. I have been so blessed in my life to have you. I am thankful for my grandparents and great grandparents (generations back…) on both sides, who gave me two wonderful, Godly parents to love and care for me. I am thankful for my brothers and my sister who I love dearly. And what has been so unique about this family is that our extended family has been the same source of strength, encouragement and love. My cousins are like my brothers and sisters. And I had relationships with not only aunts and uncles, but also great aunts and uncles! That’s a rare and special thing.

No one on earth has had better parents; nor better siblings; nor better in-laws; nor better aunts and uncles than we’ve had; nor better great aunts and uncles; nor better cousins; nor better nieces and nephews… I am proud to be part of such a wonderful family.

The past years have been filled with much laughter and love… so abundant that it can’t be measured! It fills me up. The memories are sweet and will forever be in my heart. God has blessed us more than any of us realize by giving us each other. We need to embrace that and keep sending back out what we have so generously received.

I pray for God’s blessings in each of your lives. May the new year bring you all good health, peace, much joy and an abundance of God’s goodness and grace. This weblog of memories is my gift to you all. I hope you enjoy it. Let’s keep it going, growing and keep the love flowing!

Life isn’t measured by the number of breaths you take,

but by the moments that take your breath away!

Note: For the ones not featured yet, please email me with photos and stories to share with the others! Let’s use this weblog to keep everyone up-to-date and connected with each other! I want to include everyone! Omissions are only due to lack of time, lack of photos, lack of stories, etc. Your submissions are welcomed and encouraged!

I can close my eyes and transcend back in time to ‘those two little white houses on Carnes.’ Such happy, safe places… embedded foreverin my memory…

(Front Row) Debbie, Michael, Teresa; (Back Row) Johnny, Verna, Icy

Johnny, Verna and Nathan and Icy lived side-by-side there. Maybe that is why Johnny and Verna’s kids were so close to their Mamaw and Papaw! They saw them every day. They fed and cared for them just as their parents did.

Left to Right: Teresa, Debbie, Cheryl

Being a cousin who lived out of town, I was so envious of that. Not in a bad way. But I would dream of being able to walk out my front door and see my grandparents whenever I wanted. I thought Michael, Debbie and Teresa were so lucky…

Left to Right: Cheryl, Teresa and Debbie

We mostly visited around Christmas or Easter, so those times of year always brings back good memories for me. I remember the long drive in our blue stationwagon. Me and my brothers laid out a blanket in the back and played i-spy or games. We were always so excited to see the cotton fields and share croppers’ homes, because that meant we were getting close. And shortly after we would see the bridges stretched across the Mississippii River and be reminded that our grandfather helped build one of them.

I usually stayed at my Uncle Johnny’s house. And Debbie and I were absolutely inseparably from the time we arrived, until the moment we left. We are only one month apart in age and had so much fun together!

Left to Right: Debbie, Icy, Cheryl

Left to Right: Cheryl, Nathan and Debbie

At some point during our visit, all the aunts and uncles would come over. They were aunts and uncles who lovingly kept in touch with us throughout the year, always remembering birthdays or coming to visit with us at our home in the country. All the cousins seemed more like siblings back then.

My very sweet great aunts and uncles would come too. Uncle Abe and Aunt Gladys, along with my Uncle Doc and Aunt Vivian. We were blessed to have relationships with them, as well. And sometimes there were folks there I didn’t even know, the family and friends were so many! ‘The more the better,’ as far as our Mamaw and Papaw were concerned.

If the weather was good, the day was filled with everyone playing horse shoes or washers (played the same way as horse shoes but with great big washers) in the back yard. Nathan was pretty darn good… weren’t too many that could beat him. He laughed a lot. It was something he loved almost as much as fishing. (He would stand ‘knee- deep’ in a pond and fish with a metal fishing pole during a lightening storm! I know that because I saw him do it.)

If the weather was bad, everyone just crowded in the house. There were people everywhere. Everyone was ‘just happy to be together’ and there was lots of catching up to do. It was fun just to be in the midst of it all. Usually there was a card table or two set up or they were gathered around the kitchen table, playing cards and dominoes.

Left to Right: Winnie, Dave, Johnny, Joe, Jimmy (Child, Larry)

Oh how they loved to play cards! They say that Gladys, Nathan’s sister also had a love for playing cards and that as she played, she would just ‘chew that gumas she kicked that leg! ‘ She was pretty, from photos I’ve seen. I can just see her doing that, and I hear them saying,“…go to the bone yard!” Nathan and Abe, laughing together, smoking on their pipes or fat cigars… I have one of those pipes and ‘I treasure it.’

We little girls learned early that if we jumped up on their laps as they sat around the table, ‘pretending to be sweet’ and they would usually give us a quarter! That quarter bought a lot back then! We would run down the block to the little store on the corner and buy candy.

Left to Right: Nathan, Icy

The women, I remember, sometimes sat around talking while they snapped beans, preparing the meal. As a young girl, I can remember being recruited to look through the beans and pick out the little rocks. I didn’t like beans much but I loved the process of getting them ready to cook.

The women were usually in the kitchen, cooking up the big dinner. Mamaw always put on an apron as she cooked. The food was always good. Makes my mouth water to think of it.

The men were served first (…I think the men came up with that rule) at the big table, the children were next, and then the women finally ate. And, of course, the women had the chore of clean-up. (These were two traditions that really needed upgrading!)

Mamaw Icy would ask Papaw where something was and he would say, “Right cher!”

Icy always had a lot of puzzles and things for kids to play with. And she loved to work them with us. Nathan loved puzzles too! And oh, how Nathan loved babies. But when they got bigger, he didn’t know what to do with them.

After dinner someone would put some music on. Usually Jimmy, because he has always loved and collected music! Sara and the sisters would start jitterbuggin, pulling whoever they could grab out on the floor and the kids would watch in amazement. They could really “cut a rug!”

I usually stayed at Uncle Johnny’s with Debbie. Michael had the little room in the back that I thought was just the greatest! I loved going back there and hanging around him. I thought Michael was ‘it!’

I remember a closet we kids would crawl through, from one room to another when we played hide-and-seek. We were forbidden from going into Uncle Jimmy’s room…. it looked so inviting! His room was always so NEAT! Everything in it’s place. The forbidden was so intriguing! But sometimes we were ‘invited in’ and that was a special privilege. We’d sit on the floor, look at his pictures, talk and listen to the oldies!

Best of all, I remember sitting on the front porch or sprawling out in the floor (in everyones’ way), coloring with Debbie with the gigantic box of colors I got for Christmas (that had a built in sharpener and every color in the rainbow).

The two houses were always so safe and warm because love dwelled there. Christmas time was extra special… the tree decorated with shiny, silver ice sickles and big, glittery Christmas balls dangling… the glittering tree towering over the many presents stacked high beneath! And the smell of sugar cookies and laughter was in the air… Oh how I wish I could be there, playing, laughing, talking… just one more time, surrounded by everyone, including all those who have since crossed over. I think we would all appreciate it more…

I hold these memories deep in my heart. No one can ever steal them. It is a place I can go to renew myself at any time. It reminds me how richly blessed I am to have a family bound together by love. I know our family is not perfect and we have had our bumps in the road. But as the Garth Brooks song says… “I could have missed the pain, but I’d have had to miss the dance…” So, I put any pain away, and say thank you for the dance!

To each of you, I say thank you.The best gifts you gave me could never fit under a tree… but they are forever tucked in my heart.

When Nathan first saw Icy, he knew he wanted to marry her. Love at first sight. She was singing in church. He said she looked like an angel, standing up there singing in the choir!

Left to right: Gladys Hollaway (Nathan’s younger sister who died at a young age) with her husband Allen behind her (their children: Melvin, Bobby and Junior) When Gladys died, Allen was a very gentle and sweet man. He married again and lived in Buntyn, making a living by working on and selling sewing machines; center front is the beautiful, sweet Gladys, wife of Abe Wright with Abe standing behind her. What a beautiful couple they were, both so handsome and stylish; right front is Icy with Ken standing behind her. No finer people were there than these two amazing people.

He was friends with her brother. He discovered that she was ‘ornery’ and he like that about her! He also thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

Grandma Hall didn’t like him at first. Actually, she despised him. She forbid him from taking her daughter out. She thought Icy was way too young to be dating. He worked hard and finally won her over.

Their courtship was sometimes rocky. They quarreled a bit when they were dating. But nothing serious.

Nathan asked Icy to marry him while driving in his car. Her first answer to his proposal was ‘NO!’

But… he obviously got her to say ‘YES’ at some point!

Nathan and Icy were married for 55 years until Nathan’s death in 1976. They had a wonderful, blessed life together. Icy passed away on December 4th, 1997, the day before their wedding anniversary. I guess she was just ready to celebrate their anniversary together once again! But gosh, how we miss them!